The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has disclosed that he underwent throat surgery shortly after his widely debated interview with Al Jazeera journalist Mehdi Hasan.
Bwala made the revelation during a television appearance while responding to the backlash that followed the interview and reactions across social media.
According to him, the procedure took place just days after the exchange. “Eight days after the interview with Mehdi Hasan, I underwent surgery on my throat,” he said.
The presidential aide suggested that the intense criticism trailing the interview may have played a role in the situation, although he did not provide specific medical details linking the two.
He also criticised some of his online detractors, particularly opposition supporters, accusing them of placing political interests above national considerations.
Bwala defended his performance during the interview, describing the questioning as confrontational. He argued that the approach adopted by the interviewer was aimed more at challenging the government than fostering a balanced discussion.
The interview, aired on Al Jazeera’s programme, generated widespread reactions, with clips circulating online and drawing mixed responses from viewers.
During the exchange, Bwala was repeatedly confronted with past statements he made prior to joining the current administration, a development that further fueled debate over his responses.
Despite the controversy, he maintained that he remains willing to represent and defend the government’s position on public platforms.